Prices depend on the type of train, destination, or even hour of departure. In addition, prices may vary depending on the season, for example, PKP usually offers lower, promotional prices for the trains to the coast in the summer time.
InterCity (IC) and express (EX) trains are the most expensive and the fastest ones in the domestic traffic. They can move quickly between large cities, for example, between Warsaw-Poznan and Warsaw and Krakow, etc. Cheaper trains are fast trains and the cheapest are slow, suburban ones. Searching the Internet, one can indicate to see all the possible connections and get an offer according to all categories of trains.
However, if you want to move cheaply between provincial cities, you should use the fast train Interregio (IR). It is a category of interregional trains, which is an inexpensive alternative to the InterCity trains. For example, Interregio train from Warsaw to Krakow costs 42 zł (only Class 2). The second class ticket on InterCity costs 107 zł. However, InterRegio train may go up to two hours longer. InterRegio trains run daily. A list of Interregio trains.
If you are not in a hurry, it is worth considering the connections offered by Low Fare Railways (Tanie Linie Kolejowe, TLK) because of the competitive prices. The trains go daily. Tickets can be bought in advance and, hence, you must buy them as soon as possible, especially before the holidays, Christmas and long weekends (periods, when Saturday and Sunday is combined with holidays off from work, for example, the period 1-3 May). TLK ticket is issued for a specific train, and states the seat number . At an affordable price, you can get to all major cities (it is best to buy a ticket for the longest driving distance).A conductor sells tickets but without a seat number. TLK trains have restaurant cars.
PKP also offers international connections, particularly by EuroCity trains. These are the fastest connections from Warsaw, Poznan, Krakow, Katowice and Wroclaw to other European cities such as Berlin, Prague and Vienna. First and second class cars on EuroCity trains are comfortable and air conditioned. Train cars are adapted to the needs of disabled people and for carrying bicycles. The trains have a dining car that offers drinks and snacks. EuroCity trains in Poland are covered by a total reservation of seats.
If you are planning a night international journey by train you can use the EuroNight services. Such trains are equipped with comfortable sleeping cars with compartments for one, two or three people and LUX-type cars with additional facilities. Free refreshments are served in the sleeping cars.
EuroCity
Eurocity (EC) offers the fastest connections from Warsaw, Poznan, Krakow and Katowice to European capitals. Trains are equipped with first and second class air-conditioned comfortable cars and a restaurant car. Train cars are adapted to the needs of disabled people and for carrying bicycles. Drinks and snacks are also sold at compartments. On the territory of Poland trains are covered by a total reservation of seats. Eurocity provides a direct connection from Warsaw / Poznan / Krakow / Katowice and Wroclaw to Berlin ,from Warsaw / Katowice and Krakow to Vienna, from Warsaw / Katowice and Krakow to Prague and Krakow / Katowice and Wroclaw to Hamburg.
InterCity
InterCity (IC) is a comfortable train that offers the fastest rail connections between Warsaw and the major cities in Poland. First and second class cars are air-conditioned. There is a restaurant car in each train. Drinks and snacks are also sold at compartments. In the first class customers may choose a seat in a car with or without compartments. In the first class cars without compartments it is possible to order a meal without going to the restaurant car. There are cars with managerial compartments - with 4 comfortable seats and a big table – on the trains running in hours adjusted to the needs of business customers. In these compartments one can book from 1 to 4 seats regardless of the number of people travelling; each traveller, in addition to standard catering, gets breakfast or lunch (depending on the time) and a package of daily newspapers and weeklies. There are comfortable air-conditioned compartments with 6 seats in the second class cars. On some trains there are cars without compartments that are adapted to the needs of people with disabilities and for transporting bicycles. The trains are subject to a total reservation of seats. InterCity provides a direct connection from Warsaw to Krakow, Katowice, Bielsko-Biala, Opole, Wroclaw, Poznan, Szczecin and the Trojmiasto (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia) and from Krakow to Gdynia.
Express
Express trains lines (Ex) offer convenient connections between the major cities and tourist destinations in Poland. On the main railway lines the network of express trains complements the InterCity connections. An important part of the network are trains from Warsaw to the biggest tourist destinations that provide the highest standard of connections. Trains consist of the first and second class cars and a restaurant car where Polish cuisine dishes as well as cold and hot drinks are served. Drinks and snacks are also sold at compartments. In most of the trains there are second class cars without compartments for the carriage of bicycles. In more than half the trains there are second class cars with 6 seat compartments Express trains are covered by a total reservation of seats. Express trains offer a direct connection from Warsaw to Krakow, Rzeszow, Przemysl, Nowy Sacz, Katowice, Bielsko-Biala, Opole, Wrocław, Poznań, Szczecin, Zielona Gora, Trojmiasto (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia), Koszalin, from Krakow to Gdynia, from Katowice and Bielsko Biala to Gdynia, from Gdynia to Przemysl and from Warsaw to Zakopane, Krynica, Poland, Wisla, Jelenia Gora, Kolobrzeg, Hel, Swinoujscie and from Krakow to Kolobrzeg.
TLK – Low Fare Railway Lines
TLK offers relatively cheap travels on domestic routes, including the popular tourist destinations. Trains run only during the day and consist of the first and second class cars and a restaurant car. It is possible to carry bicycles and tourist equipment on the selected trains. The trains are subject to a total reservation of seats. TLK offer cheap, direct connections from Warsaw to Bydgoszcz, Poznan, Szczecin, Bialystok, Zielona Gora, Trojmiasto (Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia), Lublin, Kielce and Krakow, Koszalin and Kolobrzeg, from Krakow to Gdynia and Kolobrzeg, Szczecin and Swinoujscie, from Poznan to Przemysl and Zakopane; from Lublin to Gdynia and Szczecin, from Bialystok to Poznan and Szczecin.
Fast Trains
Fast trains run on all main railway lines in Poland and provide connections between the major cities and smaller centres. Due to frequent stops on the route and low fares they are the most available option. These trains run mostly during the day; most of the night trains are only seasonal which run during the so-called run- peak traffic periods (holidays, vacation, holidays). The trains consist of the first and second class cars (selected trains consist of the second class cars with 6 seats in the compartment). Some of the trains consist of modernized cars of the first and second class and a restaurant car where you can also carry bicycles and tourist equipment. On the night trains there are sleeping cars and berth cars. These trains are not covered by the carriages with seating places).
International Fast Trains
PKP Intercity is now offering night trains from Warsaw, Katowice and Krakow to Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, from Warsaw, Katowice, Krakow and Gdynia to Berlin from Warsaw to Moscow and Kiev, from Krakow to Kiev and the day trains from Warsaw to Šeštokai and from Gdynia to Kaliningrad. There are also transit connections from Moscow to Berlin and Prague, and from Kiev to Berlin. The night trains are equipped with berth cars and second class cars with seating(on the transit trains there are mostly sleeping cars). There are cars with seats in the first and second class on the train from Warsaw to Šeštokai.
Rolling stock
Trains and their interiors can be viewed on http://www.pkp.pl/cop/galeria. Carriages are divided into compartments. The door gets open with a handle or - in the case of modern cars – with a button and can be opened only after the train has stopped. The door between the compartments is usually sliding. However, in some cars (especially in the InterCity trains) the door between compartments opens automatically. In this case, press a button and wait until the door gets open.
In Poland there are no platskart cars. Hence, the role of a conductor is different, he only checks the tickets. By contrast, snacks and drinks can be purchased from the corridor stewardesses and stewards and dining cars (WARS).
WARS Cars
WARS are restaurant and bar cars. There, you can buy dinner , soups, appetizers, salads and desserts. The offer is complemented by sale of snacks and beverages in the compartments. WARS SA offer is available in: IC (Intercity), EC (EuroCity), Ex (Express) and TLK (Low Fare Railways) and varies depending on the category of cars. Different menu is served in bar cars and different (more varied) in the dining cars.
